Page:The Social War.djvu/42

36

ISTER NANCY CLOVER is a deep maiden lady, who speaks seldom, unless she sees a sure chance to make an impression in her own behalf. General Washington Armington is the idol of her soul, and although the general is not a marrying man, being a widower of nearly fifty summers, she has had a hope of capturing him without much trouble.

The general has always treated her with more than ordinary respect, probably on account of her zeal in the work of Christianity; because he was himself no hypocrite, but a sincere believer in, and follower of, orthodox religious creeds.

General Armington was a liberal orthodox saint, who looked upon every religious sect with charity, love and respect; in fact, it made little or no difference to him whether a man was a Presbyterian, Methodist, or Catholic; so long as he had faith in Jesus Christ, and led a good moral life, he esteemed such a one as his brother.

Nancy Clover understood the views of the general thoroughly, and as she was very conceited, and delighted in controlling every one, thought that it would be an easy task to bring him to terms after a seasonable time had passed after the death of his wife; but Nancy found that she was shamefully mistaken; therefore her love of power was aroused to its highest bend, and she determined to conquer or die.

She meditated as follows:—"I have done everything in my power for the last two years to get General Armington to propose to me; I have courted the society of his hateful daughter Lucinda; I have endeavored to make him jealous of others, after he paid me more than ordinary attentions,